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 Editorials | Issues | October 2007 
Americans Ponder Actions on Illegal Residents
 Angus Reid Global Monitor
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Most people in the United States agree that their government should take specific actions to deal with the country’s millions of undocumented immigrants, according to a poll by Public Opinion Strategies and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research released by National Public Radio.
In the survey, 49 per cent of respondents think the U.S. needs to get control of the border, require illegal immigrants to re-enter the country legally, stop illegal immigrants from getting government benefits, and send illegal immigrants who are convicted criminals back to their home country.
An additional 44 per cent of respondents think it is impractical to expel 12 million people—the estimated number of undocumented residents—but agree that the government needs both tougher controls at the borders and tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants, as well as a policy to bar illegal immigrants from getting most government benefits, while allowing the law-abiding immigrants to get on a long path to citizenship.
In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.
In May 2006, U.S. president George W. Bush addressed the nation to discuss his immigration proposals. Bush outlined five clear objectives: securing the borders, creating a temporary worker program, holding employers to account for the workers they hire, allowing illegal immigrants "who have roots" in the country to apply for citizenship, and helping newcomers assimilate into American society.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate discussed and rejected a revised immigration bill, which would have allowed illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa." After paying fees, a $5,000 U.S. fine and then returning to their home countries, they could apply for permanent residency, which could be granted in eight to 13 years. The bill also included a proposal to introduce a points system that would prioritize access to the U.S. for skilled and educated immigrants, as well as new family-reunification guidelines.
This month, former Mexican president Vicente Fox released an autobiography co-authored with Rob Allyn called "Revolution of Hope." In the book, Fox laments the ongoing tensions between Mexico and the U.S. due to the immigration issue and states: "North of the border, Mexicans are seen only as migrant crop pickers who have too many babies in the hospitals of California and Texas, expecting border-state taxpayers to pick up the tab. It is this bleak pattern of mutual misunderstanding that dominates the debate on immigration. On one side of the Rio Grande, the poorer nation, fearful of domination and exploitation; on the other side the wealthy country, fearful of losing its economic advantages, personal security and cultural integrity to a flood of unskilled farmhands who live six to a room and work cheap."
Polling Data
On immigration... Which statement comes closest to your own opinion?
We need to get control of the border, require illegal immigrants to re-enter the country legally, stop illegal immigrants from getting government benefits, and send illegal immigrants who are convicted criminals back to their home country - 49%
It is impractical to expel 12 million people, but we need tougher controls at the borders, tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and we should bar illegal immigrants from getting most government benefits, while allowing the law-abiding immigrants to get on a long path to citizenship - 44%
Both / Neither / Not sure - 6%
Refused - 1%
Source: Public Opinion Strategies / Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research / National Public Radio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 likely American voters, conducted from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7, 2007. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent. |
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